Line of purples
Encyclopedia
In color theory
, the line of purples or the purple boundary is the locus of non-spectral color
s on the edge of the chromaticity diagram between red
and violet
. Like spectral colors, purple
s can be considered fully saturated in the sense that for any given point on the line of purples there exists no color more saturated than it. But there is no monochromatic light source able to generate a purple color. Instead, every color on the line of purples is produced by mixing a unique ratio of extreme red and extreme violet (which, as being consistently more reddish than the bluish violet
, may be considered purple
anyway; see Bezold–Brücke shift).
Unlike spectral colors (which may be implemented, for example, by nearly monochromatic light
of laser
, with precision much finer than human chromaticity resolution
), colors on the line of purples are more difficult to implement practically. Cones' sensitivity to both of extreme spectral colors is quite low (see luminosity function
), so commonly observed purple colors do not achieve maximal saturation.
Purple colors with high saturation include crimson
, amaranth
, raspberry
, ruby
, rose
, and magenta
, as well as purple
itself. Some of the brighter tones of pink tending towards rose and magenta such as hot pink, deep pink, and shocking pink are also regarded as purple colors in color theory.
Color theory
In the visual arts, color theory is a body of practical guidance to color mixing and the visual impacts of specific color combinations. Although color theory principles first appeared in the writings of Leone Battista Alberti and the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci , a tradition of "colory theory"...
, the line of purples or the purple boundary is the locus of non-spectral color
Spectral color
A spectral color is a color that is evoked by a single wavelength of light in the visible spectrum, or by a relatively narrow band of wavelengths...
s on the edge of the chromaticity diagram between red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
and violet
Violet (color)
As the name of a color, violet is synonymous with a bluish purple, when the word "purple" is used in the common English language sense of any color between blue and red, not including either blue or red...
. Like spectral colors, purple
Purple
Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue, and is classified as a secondary color as the colors are required to create the shade....
s can be considered fully saturated in the sense that for any given point on the line of purples there exists no color more saturated than it. But there is no monochromatic light source able to generate a purple color. Instead, every color on the line of purples is produced by mixing a unique ratio of extreme red and extreme violet (which, as being consistently more reddish than the bluish violet
Violet (color)
As the name of a color, violet is synonymous with a bluish purple, when the word "purple" is used in the common English language sense of any color between blue and red, not including either blue or red...
, may be considered purple
Purple
Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue, and is classified as a secondary color as the colors are required to create the shade....
anyway; see Bezold–Brücke shift).
Unlike spectral colors (which may be implemented, for example, by nearly monochromatic light
Light
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has wavelength in a range from about 380 nanometres to about 740 nm, with a frequency range of about 405 THz to 790 THz...
of laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
, with precision much finer than human chromaticity resolution
MacAdam ellipse
In the study of color vision, MacAdam ellipses refer to the region on a chromaticity diagram which contains all colors which are indistinguishable, to the average human eye, from the color at the center of the ellipse...
), colors on the line of purples are more difficult to implement practically. Cones' sensitivity to both of extreme spectral colors is quite low (see luminosity function
Luminosity function
The luminosity function or luminous efficiency function describes the average visual sensitivity of the human eye to light of different wavelengths. It should not be considered perfectly accurate in every case, but it is a very good representation of visual sensitivity of the human eye and it is...
), so commonly observed purple colors do not achieve maximal saturation.
Purple colors with high saturation include crimson
Crimson
Crimson is a strong, bright, deep red color. It is originally the color of the dye produced from a scale insect, Kermes vermilio, but the name is now also used as a generic term for those slightly bluish-red colors that are between red and rose; besides crimson itself, these colors include...
, amaranth
Amaranth (color)
Amaranth is a reddish-rose color that is a representation of the color of the flower of the amaranth plant. The color shown is the color of the red amaranth flower , but there are other varieties of amaranth that have other colors of amaranth flowers; these colors are also shown below.The color...
, raspberry
Raspberry (color)
Raspberry is a color that resembles the color of raspberries.The first recorded use of raspberry as a color name in English was in 1892.-Raspberry rose:At right is displayed the color raspberry rose....
, ruby
Ruby (color)
Ruby is a color that is a representation of the color of the cut and polished ruby gemstone. The somewhat deeper color of the uncut, unpolished ruby crystal is called rubelite.The first recorded use of ruby as a color name in English was in 1572...
, rose
Rose (color)
Rose is the color halfway between red and magenta on the HSV color wheel, also known as the RGB color wheel, on which it is at hue angle of 330 degrees.Rose is one of the tertiary colors on the HSV color wheel...
, and magenta
Magenta
Magenta is a color evoked by light stronger in blue and red wavelengths than in yellowish-green wavelengths . In light experiments, magenta can be produced by removing the lime-green wavelengths from white light...
, as well as purple
Purple
Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue, and is classified as a secondary color as the colors are required to create the shade....
itself. Some of the brighter tones of pink tending towards rose and magenta such as hot pink, deep pink, and shocking pink are also regarded as purple colors in color theory.
See also
- Monochrome theory, on pure monochromaticity.
- Purple versus violet;
- Bezold–Brücke shift, on reddish "extreme violet".
- BrownBrownBrown is a color term, denoting a range of composite colors produced by a mixture of orange, red, rose, or yellow with black or gray. The term is from Old English brún, in origin for any dusky or dark shade of color....
, similarly darkDarkDark commonly refers to darkness, the absence of light.Dark may also refer to:*Evil, sinister or malign*Dark , a term used to describe a broadcasting service that has ceased transmission...
extreme color, instead considered spectral. - DarknessDarknessDarkness, in contrast with brightness, is a relative absence of visible light. It is the appearance of black in a color space. When light is not present, rod and cone cells within the eye are not stimulated. This lack of stimulation means photoreceptor cells are unable to distinguish color...
, a quality appliable to any spectral colorSpectral colorA spectral color is a color that is evoked by a single wavelength of light in the visible spectrum, or by a relatively narrow band of wavelengths...
, since it's absence of whiteWhiteWhite is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
light.